Paper cutting and folding machine.



PATENTBD JUNE 16, 1903.

s. 1). RUTH. PAPER CUTTING AND FOLDING MAGHINB.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 17, 1902.

H0 MODEL.

EFAWZ PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

S. D. RUTH. PAPER CUTTING AND FOLDIN G MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17, 1902 8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H0 MODEL.

No. 730,974. PATENTED JUNE 16, I903.

n RUTH. PAPER GUTEHIG AND FOLDING MACHINE.

APFLIUAT'I'OE FIRED JULY 17, 1902 H0 MODEL.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

a 20 a *1: 50 43 I z/ Patented June 16, 1903.

PATE T OFFICE.

SAMUEL D. RUTH, OF BEATRICE, NEBRASKA.

PAPER CUTTING AND- FOLDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,974, dated June 16, 1903.

Application filed July 17, 1902.- Serial No. ll6i0l0. (N0 model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL D. RUTH, a citi- The object of the present invention is to provide a machine or apparatus for slitting and folding sheets of paper, envelops, and the like for the purpose of forming a fastening or securing device to hold a number of sheets of paper together or to form a closure for an envelop.

A further object of the invention is to con-' struct a device of this character in which the operations of slitting, folding, and pressing the folded portion may be carried on successively with a single movement of an operating jaw or lever.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 7

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a paper cutting and folding machine constructed inraccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the parts in different positions. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the device, the upper lover or jaw being broken away and shown partly in section. section, of a modified form of tool in the nature of a pair of pliers for convenience in operation. Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4, the parts being illustrated in dilferent positions. Figs. 6 and 7- are face views of the upper and lower jaws, respectively, of the device illustrated in Fig. 4.. Fig. 8 is a View of a detail. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the bed or lower jaw of a slightly-modified construction of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same on the line 10 10 of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a view illustrating a number of sheets of paper having one corner folded and provided with convergent slits or incisions made by the apparatus during the first movement of the operating jaw or lever. Fig. 12 is a similar view illustrating the tongue formed by the incis- Fig. 4 is an elevation, partly in ions bent over and pressed against the surface of the paper. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of aportion of an envelop, illustrating a plurality of bent tongues'which may be simultaneously formed by duplicating the cutting and folding members of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of .the drawings.

The apparatus forming the subject of the present invention is designed to form a simple and inexpensive means for securing together a number of sheets of paper in the manner shown in Figs. 11 and 12 or in similar manner to form a fastener for a sample envelop or circular which will protect the contents of the envelop and at the sametime permit the ready opening of the same for in speotion by the postal authorities, as required in some classes of mail.

' When a number of sheets of paper are to be secured together, th eyare properly assembled and bent over at one corner, forming an angular fold-line, as indicated in Fig. 11, and in the portion so bent or folded is formed a pair of convergent incisions. The tapering or wedge-like tongue between these incisions is then bent over upon the body of the paper and forms a secure fastening for holding the sheets of paper together. An envelop may be fastened in similar manner, as indicated in Fig. 13; but in such cases it is preferred to make two or more holdingtongues depending on the sides of the envelop.

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates a suitable bed-plate, in the upper surface of which are formed a pair of parallel slots 11 to receive and guide a pair of stop-pins 12, said pins being connected by rods 13 to a crossbar 14 at the front end of the base. 'The central portion of the cross-bar 14 is provided with a screw 15, having an operating-knob 16, said screw extending intoa threaded opening in the'end of the base to permit the adjustment of the pins either toward or from the front end of the base.

Arranged centrally of the base is a slightlyelevatcd plate 17, disposed midway between the two stop-pins l2 and having at its front end a pair of convergent cutting edges 18, arranged at angles at which. it may be desired IOC to form the incisions in the paper or envelop. Near the rear portion of each of the cutting edges 18 is pivoted a cutting-knife 19, which is connected by a link 20 to one side of an operating-lever 21, the latter being pivoted at the rear end of the base-plate and provided with a suitable handle 22. This operatinglever is normally held in the elevated position illustrated in Fig. 2 by tension-spring 23, extending between a fixed eye on the base and a hook carried by the lever.

The central portion of the plate 17 is recessed or grooved for its entire length and serves to receive and guide a folding-strip 25, movable longitudinally of the plate 17 and serving to engage and bend the tongue from the position illustrated in Fig. 11 to that shown in Fig. 12. The folding-strip is of a thickness less than the plate 17 in order that it may the better engage and move the paper tongue beyond and through the cutters, and said strip is provided with slots 26, through which extend guiding-pins 27, carried by the base and serving to prevent excessive upward movement of the strip during the folding operation, said pins being of sufficient length to permit a slight upward movement of the strip, as may be required during the folding operation to permit the device to accommodate itself to varying thicknesses of material. At a point under the rear portion of the operating-lever is a standard 30, carried' by the base and serving as a support for the central pivot-pin 31 of a bell-crank lever 32, the vertical arm of which is fitted in a recess in the rear end of the folded strip and the horizontal arm being adapted for operative contact with a block 33 on the under side of the operating-lever. This block is yielding, being formed of rubber or provided with a yielding cushion which will permit a downward movement of the operating-lever after the folding-strip has completed its work.

Projecting from opposite sides of the lever 21 are lugs 35, carrying compression-springs 36, the latter being provided at their lower ends with plates 37, adapted for contact with V the paper or envelop after the insertion of the latter between the bed-plate and lever and in advance of the cutting operation, the springs being of snfiicient length to engage with and hold the paper during the succeeding cutting and folding operations and permitting free-downward movement of the operating-lever to accomplish the desired result. At a point between the two lugs the operating-lever is provided with a depending block 39, so arranged that after the completion of the movement of the folding-strip said block will come into contact with the top of the folding-strip and will press the same firmly down on the folded paper tongue, this compressive movement being permitted by the yielding of the block 33, or the folding-strip may continue its forward movement over the paper tongue and the lower end of the compression-block be provided with an antifricslits or incisions formed in the paper.

tion-roller for contact with the strip, as will be readily understood.

The operation of the device is as follows: After adjusting the pins 12 to the desired position the folded paper or the envelop is inserted under the spring-plates 37 until the edge of the paper rests against the stop-pins, said stop-pins determining the length of the The operating-lever is then depressed and the spring-pressed plates 37 come into contact with the paper and hold the latter firmly in place during the subsequent cutting and folding operations. As the downward movement of the lever 21 is continued the knives 19 are forced past the stationary cutting edges 18 and the incisions are formed. The body of the paper is pressed. down into contact with the upper surface of the base, while the tongue remains on the elevated plate 17 in convenient position to be engaged on the subsequent movement of the folding-strip. The downward movement of the lever continuing, block 33 engages the horizontal arm of bell-crank lever 32 and through said lever effects a forward movement of the foldingstrip, the tongue of paper being forced over to the position shown in Fig. 11. At this time the upper surfaces of the movable cutting-knives 19 are below the tongue and cutting edges 18, so that there is nothing to interfere with the free folding movement of said tongue. On the further downward movement of the operating-lever the compressionblock 39 comes into contact with the foldingstrip and presses the latter firmly on the tongue to insure the latter remaining in position after the paper is removed from the apparatus. The downward movement of the compression-block is-,as previously described, permitted by the yielding'of the block 33. When the operating-lever is released, the spring 23 elevates the lever to the position shown in Fig. 2, and at the same time the bell-crank lever and folding-strip are returned to initial position by a tension-spring 40 in readiness for a subsequent operation.

The device may take the form of a pair of pliers in order that it may be conveniently ICO employed as a hand-tool and, if necessary,

carried in the pocket.

In the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the upper jaw 41 and the lower jaw 42 are each provided with rearwardlyextending side tongues 43, provided with openings for the reception of separate pivots 4:4, in order that a space may be left between the two jaw members for the passage of the folding strip 45. The jaw members are connected with handle members 4:6and 47, these being normally separated by a compression-spring 48, and the opening movement being limited bya chain or other flexible connecting device, as indicated at 49. The lower jaw 42 is provided with a pair of slots 50, forming female die members and preferably arranged on the angular lines, although in some instances they may be parallel. The upper jaw is provided with a pair of knives or male dies 51 and also carrying a pair of compressionsprings 52 for engaging and holding the paper or envelop during the cutting and folding operation. The folding-strip 45 is partly supported by a cross-bar 53, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5, and the outer or rear end of said folding-strip is pivotally connected to a pair of links 54, the outer ends of which are pivoted to lugs 55 on the inner faces of the handles 46 and 4:7.

In the operation of a device of this character the movements are so timed that the holding-springs 52 will first engage with the paper and hold the same during the subsequent cutting movement of the knives or die members. Before the knives or male dies hold the same, but after the cutting operation is complete, the folding -strip 45 operates to force the tongue of paper between said knives or dies, and on the completion of the closing movement of the jaws the latter are forced into contact with the folding-strip and with the paper to compress the tongue and effectually bind the same in position.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 provision is made for adjusting the degree of inclination of the slits or incisions formed in the paper. The plates 17 are provided with tapering end blocks 57, having cutting edges 18. The blocks 57 are pivoted on pins 58, projecting upwardly from the bedplate, and have laterally-extended lugs 59, between which and stationary lugs 60 are compression-springs 61, which normally tend to move the blocks toward each other. These blocks are arrangedin recesses formed in the surface of the bed-plate and are engaged by a tapering block 62, adapted to a guidingopening in the bed-plate and connected to the cross-bar 14, which also carries the stoppins 12. In this case the adjusting-screw 15 is carried by a bar 63, secured to the end of the bed-plate. The angle of cut is adjusted in proportion to the length of cut, the position of the stop-pins determining the length of the cut, and as the length increases the width of the paper tongue is proportionately increased.

As the cutting-knives are pivotally connected to blocks 57 and moved with said blocks, it is not necessary to provide an auxiliary means for adjusting the position of said knives, sufficient movement being permitted to allow the necessary adjustment by making the links 20 with comparatively loose pivotal connections.

The device forms a simple and convenient means of securing paper and envelops without the expense of eyelets, paper-fasteners, or similar securing devices.

While the construction herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings is the preferred form of the device, it is obvious that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. A device of the class described comprising means for cutting a folded portion of a sheet of paper to form an inclined or wedgeshaped tongue, and means for folding said tongue back on the body of the paper.

2. In a device of the class described, a paper-holder, a cutting device, a folding device, and a single operating means adapted to successively operate all of such devices by a single movement.

In combination, means for cutting paper to form a tongue, means for folding the tongue, and a movable operating device adapted during a single movement to suecessively operate the cutting and the folding means.

4:. In a device of the class specified, the lower cutters, a folding-strip adapted to reciprocate in a plane between the cutters,an

operating-lever, a paper-clamping spring carried thereby, a movable connecting-lever between the operating-lever and the foldingstrip, and movable cutters operably connected to the operating-lever.

5. In a device of the class specified, the lower cutters, a folding-strip movable in a plane between the cutters, an operating-lever, spring paper-clamps depending therefrom, hinged cutting-knives for cooperation with the lower cutters, links connecting the hinged knives to the lever, means for operatively connecting the lever and folding-tongue, and a compressiondock depending from said lever and adapted to engage and depress the folding-strip.

6. In a device of the class specified, a base, an elevated plate arranged on the base and having inclined cutting edges, cutting-knives hinged thereto, a folding-strip guided in said elevated plate, an operating-lever, links connecting the lever to the hinged knives, a spring paper-clamp and a compression-block depending from the lever, and a yieldable connecting device between the lever and the folding-strip.

7. In a device of the class specified, a base having slots, adjustable stoppins disposed in said slots, means for adjusting said stoppins, an elevated plate arranged on the base and forming a lower cutter, said plate being provided with a longitudinally-disposed guiding-slot, a reciprocating folding-strip disposed in said guiding-slot, an operating-lever, a spring holding-clamp carried thereby, hinged cutting-knives for cooperation with the lower cutter, links connecting said knives to the operating-lever, a bell-cranklever having a pivotal support, one end of said bellcrank lever being connected to the foldingstrip, a yieldable block carried by the operating-lever for engagement with the opposite arm of said bell-crank lever, and a compreswedge-bar, cutting-knives for cooperation with the cutting edges of the blocks, a fold- I;

ing-strip disposed in the slot of said elevated plate, an operating-lever connected to said knives and means for connecting said lever to the folding-strip, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 20 my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL D. RUTH. Witnesses:

JOHN E. RUTH, CHARLES W. GREENING. 

